Australia: Qld PM Welcomes QGC Contract

Premier Anna Bligh has welcomed the news of a new $120 million contract linked to the booming gas industry.

Ms Bligh said QGC Pty Limited has announced a $120 million contract for the supply of polyethylene pipe for its gas fields in Queensland.

“Part of the deal is a new manufacturing facility in Toowoomba to be open by mid 2012,” said the Premier.

“This is just another example of how the new liquid natural gas industry is providing new opportunities and jobs in towns and cities across Queensland.

“Our State is on the cusp of something big. We have an incredibly bright future in this State and today’s announcement is just the beginning.”

The contract has been awarded to Iplex Pipelines, a division of Fletcher Building, supplies and distributes pipeline systems and manufactures pipelines from 15mm to 2000mm in diameter for services including plumbing, water supply, gas, sewerage, storm water, irrigation, telecommunications, and electricity.

Pipe deliveries are expected to start in December this year and continue over at least two years. Iplex Pipelines will also construct a new manufacturing facility in the Toowoomba region to open by mid-2012 to service this and other contracts.

In April the Premier announced Hemmant-based Aluminum Boats Australia would build three passenger ferries valued at $21 million for Gladstone LNG which would be used to transport workers between the port city and Curtis Island.

And just this month Premier Bligh launched the first of the ferries that will transport workers to new Gas plants on Curtis Island and announced a new $20 million dollar contract for the Brisbane based boat builder.

“These job creating contracts are an example of the ripple effect that the LNG boom is starting to create across Queensland,” she said.

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Source: cabinet.qld.gov, September 28, 2011